ILOILO City – The threats they have been receiving from the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) following the killing of a high-ranking Panay Island rebel won’t weaken the government’s anti-insurgency efforts, according to the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).
Major Cenon Pancito III, 3ID spokesperson, said the Army, together with their counterparts in the Philippine National Police, will continue to go after terrorists.
“This is part of our mandate and we don’t have the intention to shirk from what we promised to the people. We will not stop conducting operations against rebels if they still continue their armed struggle,” Pancito said.
Reynaldo Bocala, peace negotiations consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), and his aide Willy “Ramon” Epago were killed in a shootout with police operatives in Barangay Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo on Friday night last week, May 28.
Police said the two men fired at cops and soldiers who were supposed to serve them arrest warrants, so they were shot.
Citing intelligence reports, Pancito said they received threats from Jurie Guererro, spokesperson of the Jose Percival Waling-Waling Command of the NPA.
“We shall not stop until the last terrorist is neutralized. Jurie Guererro should not worry. Hide if he wants to because we will bring him to justice as well. ‘Wag lang sya manlaban baka matulad sya kay Bocala,” Pancito said.
He added: “The(ir) rhetoric is not working anymore. People know who’s the real evil…CPP-NPA ang salot ng lipunan kaya ang buong bayan ay nagkakaisa para ubusin ang kanilang hanay. We may have been saddened as well with the useless death of another Filipino fighting for a wrong cause but some measures are necessary for the good of the many,” Pancito stressed.
Earlier, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) said the death of Bocala was a huge blow to the insurgents.
“Malaking kawalan sa kilusan ang pagkawala ni Bocala. It will impede their operation because he was the one managing their finances,” said Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, Western Visayas police director.
Bocala had a P4.8 million bounty.
He was alleged to have occupied several positions in the CPP-NPA such as finance officer of Kilusang Rehiyon Panay; former deputy secretary of the Southern Front Committee (SFC), Panay Regional Party Committee (PRPC); former secretary of SFC, PRPC; and former head, Regional Operational Department, PRPC.
His cases were:
* robbery in band with frustrated homicide and damage to property with the use of motor vehicle and unlicensed firearms (Criminal Case No. 2627-Tu) – arrest
warrant issued by Judge Susan Medina-Alcantara of the Municipal Circuit trial Court (MCTC) in Guimbal, Iloilo on July 12, 2004; P200,000 bail bond was recommended
* robbery with serious physical injuries (Criminal Case No. 1337) – arrest warrant issued by Judge Teodulo A. Colada of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch
67 in Guimbal, Iloilo on Feb. 4, 2005; P180,000 bail bond was recommended
* violation of Presidential Decree 1744 (Destructive Arson) as amended by Republic Act 7659 (Criminal Case No. 1373) – arrest warrant issued by Judge Colada on Feb. 21, 2005; no bail recommended
* murder (Criminal Case No.1238-H) – arrest warrant issued by Judge Ma. Monina Misajon of MCTC in the province of Antique on April 16, 1990; no bail recommended./PN
